After hearing the four separate groups led by R S Gavai, Ramdas Athwale, T M Kamble and Prakash Ambedkar, claiming to be the real Republican Party of India, the EC in its order said : ``The group led by R S Gavai enjoys superior numerical support not only in the central executive committee but also among the units of the party in various states.''

On the basis of documentary evidence, the Commission said that against the partial support of two state units claimed by the group led by Athwale, the group led by Gavai has demonstrated the support of eight state units. ``The obvious conclusion is that, in the organisational wing too, the group led by R S Gavai and Jogindra Kawade enjoys the support of the majority.''

The order signed by election commissioners G V GKrishnamurty and J M Lyngdoh said that the claims of Prakash Ambedkar and T M Kamble as representing the Republican Party of India were rejected as untenable.

As for the claims by the Gavai and Athwale groups, the commission noted that of the four RPI MPs in the 12th Lok Sabha, two were aligned with the Gavai group while one was with the Athwale group. The RPI also had one MLA each in the the Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh assemblies and both the MLAs had signed affidavits in support of the Gavai group.

Similarly in the organisational wing, of the nine members of the erstwhile presidium of the party, five were with the Gavai group and two with the Athwale group. Of the 72 members of central executive committee formed after the elections in December 1998, 36 were with the Gavai group and 27 with the Athwale group.

``The above documentary evidence undoubtedly shows that the group led by R S Gavai has superior numerical strength and enjoys majority in the legislature wing of the party.

Noting that it waswell nigh impossible to ascertain the relative strength of the primary members whose numbers may run into thousands, the Commission said that it had normally been applying in the past the test of majority in respect of those bodies or committees which form the decision making organs.

Thus, in terms of paragraph 15 of the election symbols (reservation and allotment) order, 1968, the group led by R S Gavai and Jogindra Kawade represent the RPI and is entitled to the use of its reserved symbol rising sun, it added.

The commission had heard the parties on July 29 this year and also considered their written submissions.